Luckily Corona-virus did not cancel this fatty's spring break plans! I traveled to Puerto Rico and ate some traditional and fusion foods. I started my food journey in Old San Juan and traveled East to Fajardo.
My first stop was at Bistro Cafe in Atlantic View for brunch! I had a ham and cheese croissant served the traditional way- with powdered sugar and syrup. Kind of like a Puerto Rican Monte Cristo sandwich.
Next stop was Mi Casita in Isla Verde for dinner. For an appetizer I got arañitas which are shredded plantains fried into crispy patties (think hashbrowns) served with salsa criolla. For the main course I got mofongo (garlic mashed plantains) with fried pork and a side of yellow rice and pigeon peas. My roommate got fried chicken and tostones (another variation of fried plantains). For drinks we had the classic Medalla beer.
After eating all of the leftovers for breakfast, I headed to Carolina for lunch. I went to Los Gorditos, a Puerto Rican fast food restaurant. I had mini mofongo stuffed with shrimp and rice and beans on the side. I was a little weary of having fast food, but it had all the traditional taste of authentic Puerto Rican food and was nothing like American fast food!
One night my roommate and I ventured out to La Placita. It's a big square with dozens of bars and restaurants. We tried lots of drinks like mojitos (my fav!), pina colatas, and rum punches. For food we stopped at Vianda for a quick snack of fried cheese with guava sauce. We also had empanadas from a small food stand on the street.
The next day I ventured out to Old San Juan for some historic sight seeing and the famous Choco Bar. I had a chocolate grilled cheese and traditional Puerto Rican hot chocolate with rum. My roommate had the same drink and ate ham and cheese croquettes served with a garlic butter sauce and of course, chocolate sauce! Oddly enough, chocolate with ham and cheese is actually really delicious.
The food truck park in Miramar had some great fusion and international cuisines. I ate at Las Cucharas which is Mexican. The elote (corn) was so fresh and sweet and the pork tacos were the best I have ever had. It was like being in Mexico... while being in Puerto Rico.
My next stop was at Las Cannarias Bakery for lunch. By now all restaurants were take out only, if they were even open at all. We drove around for a while before we stumbled upon this cute little diner. I had a Cubano- swiss cheese, pork, ham, mustard, and pickles on a sub roll, and a blue fanta soda.
The last leg of my foodie journey ended in Fajardo. All of the locals raved about this "hundred year old bakery". The hype of the Antique Bakery was worth it. Breakfast, lunch, and desert all in one go before I headed back to the airport. For breakfast I had a ham egg and cheese sandwich on sweet yellow bread. Simple, but seriously the best egg sandwich I have ever had. For lunch, a fish stew served with yucca (aka cassava, similar to a potato). Finally for desert, pastelitos de guayaba y queso (guava and cheese pastries) and a big slice of carrot cake!
Next time your hungry and up for an adventure, look no further than Puerto Rico for some truly amazing cuisine and culture.
Social distancing has been a challenge in many ways, especially not being able to hang out with friends and family. Quarantine season has forced many of us to miss important life events such as weddings, graduations, and birthdays. If your're stuck at home and can't physically celebrate with others, turn on a video call and make some dessert to celebrate in spirit. To celebrate a 30th birthday a few weeks ago, I recreated a childhood favorite - Little Debbie's Cosmic Brownies. I found a copy-cat recipe for them on Handle the Heat, by Tessa Arias. They were amazing and will definitely be made for the first official party I attend with friends one quarantine is lifted!
